Collaborating with Other Professional Societies!

Presentation for 2010 Nashville SME Annual Meeting

Collaborating with Other Professional Societies!

Presentation for 2010 Nashville SME Annual Meeting

John Dickson2009-2010 SME 248 Chairman

2009-2010 INLC Chairman

leanleader44@gmail.com

Dave Davidson2010 Co-Chair- SME Machining and Material Removal Technical

Community

2007 SME 248 Chairman

dryfinish@gmail.com

Speakers John Dickson (248) and Bonnie Knopf with SME President Barbara Fossum

Speakers John Dickson (248) and Bonnie Knopf with SME President Barbara Fossum

SME 248 Collaboration InitiativesSME 248 Collaboration Initiatives

SME 248(Spokane, WA)

SME 248(Spokane, WA)

Professional Societies

(INLC)

Professional Societies

(INLC)

Manufacturing Extension

Partnerships (MEP)

Manufacturing Extension

Partnerships (MEP)

UniversitiesUniversities

Greater Spokane

Incorporated (GSI)

Greater Spokane

Incorporated (GSI)

SME – MMR Technical

Community

SME – MMR Technical

Community

BusinessesBusinesses

Public SchoolsPublic Schools

Inland Northwest Leadership Council (INLC)

Inland Northwest Leadership Council (INLC)

• Formed in October 2009• “The INLC is an association of Inland Northwest

professional, business and student organizations working together to strengthen our membership and community.”

• http://sites.google.com/site/inlandnwindustry/home

SME Executive Director Mark Tomlinson and 2011 President Paul Bradley discuss Collaboration

SME Executive Director Mark Tomlinson and 2011 President Paul Bradley discuss Collaboration

October 2009 Spokane, WA Professional Society Networking Event

October 2009 Spokane, WA Professional Society Networking Event

Society Chairs gave10 minute overviews of their organization

Active brainstorming session with the 90+ society members in attendance

SME membership director Joe LaRussa discusses the Society collaboration concept with SME 026 Toronto

members Juergen Boenisch and Ken Shah

SME membership director Joe LaRussa discusses the Society collaboration concept with SME 026 Toronto

members Juergen Boenisch and Ken Shah

Quarterly Networking Events Quarterly Networking Events • October 21, 2009

– Initial INLC meeting– 90+ participants– Society presentations– Brainstormed

collaboration ideas• March 10, 2010

– Hosted by SME 248– 70+ participants– Eureka Ranch

presentation by Impact WA and TechHelp (MEPs)

• June 9, 2010– Hosted by APICS

Oct. 2009 Ideas Generated

Create a single website for all of our regional societies to use to communicate information, tours, etc.

Create a joint newsletter to share information across our societies

Create a joint LinkedIn account

Meet as a regional 'Board of Directors' every 3 months

Have a Professional Society meeting (like on Oct. 21) every 6 months

Work together on Greater Spokane Incorporated regional initiatives

Have a joint Christmas party

Give other regional society members reduced memberships in our society

Allow our members to attend all our tours

Collaborate on high school initiatives (such as First Robotics)

Share a booth at large regional conferences

Ask INSHRM (local HR society) to join us

Brainstorming about SME and collaboration following the presentations

Brainstorming about SME and collaboration following the presentations

12/09 ‘SITUATION’Where We Are (Current State)

12/09 ‘SITUATION’Where We Are (Current State)

• Stagnation• Older membership• Lack of support by employers• Lack of outreach and mentoring• Self-interest - focused on our own society• Lack of communication between societies• Not linked in with Spokane regional needs• Not organized as a community (Professional Confusion)• Stretched too thin• Stagnant economy/current overall economy soft• Cut back in professional opportunities• Regional concern with college students about job

opportunities• Lack of time for extracurricular activities• Decline of loyalty/outsourcing• Lack of financial resources

This brainstorming work group with BOD member LaRoux Gillespie makes notes on follow-up suggestions for more

effective networking and collaboration

This brainstorming work group with BOD member LaRoux Gillespie makes notes on follow-up suggestions for more

effective networking and collaboration

12/09 ‘TARGET’Where We Want To Go (Future State)

12/09 ‘TARGET’Where We Want To Go (Future State)• Minimize duplication of efforts across societies• Actively engage our combined talent pool, which is our strength• Add value to our community, societies, members, and employers• Enhance communications within societies• Share resources between societies and educational institutions • Grow each society’s membership• Increase participation in society events (invite each other to our

events)• Have a greater community voice• Expand partnering between societies• Enhance collaboration with our regional companies• Show regional companies the value of Inland Northwest

Leadership Council (INLC) membership• Tie societies to education/government to pay for more

sophisticated programs• Reach/recruit non-member engineers for membership• Help with regional economic development efforts (GSI, CVB, etc.)

Juergen Boenisch (026) and John Dickson (248) pull together lessons learned and recommendations to

leaders gathered, in an affinity like exercise

Juergen Boenisch (026) and John Dickson (248) pull together lessons learned and recommendations to

leaders gathered, in an affinity like exercise

12/09 ‘PROPOSAL’ What Will We Do (Plan)12/09 ‘PROPOSAL’ What Will We Do (Plan)

• Define key metrics for the INLC in 2010 and track them• Benchmark how other regions are successful linking

professional societies• Formalize channel of communication between societies• Develop group calendar for regional members, companies and

educational institutions to access• Create a joint website (SME has already developed a proposed

site)• Autonomy with each society still needs to be maintained• Meet monthly as a Board until we get this going well• Develop 2010 Strategic Plan • Quarterly ‘Networking Night’ for members • Present at GSI Manufacturing Roundtable in March• All societies meeting shortly afterwards – collect inputs on

what this RPS should do• Successfully collaborate with Spokane/CdA on one regional

need

President Fossum discussing collaboration at the general session…

President Fossum discussing collaboration at the general session…

LinkedIn UtilizationLinkedIn Utilization• The INLC is successfully utilizing LinkedIn as a

networking tool• All INLC and SME 248 events and correspondences

use LinkedIn

LinkedIn ExampleJulie M. has sent you a message.Date: 5/17/2010 Subject: [Inland NW Leadership] I would like to join

Inland NW Leadership Group: Inland NW Leadership I just started as Vice President of Sales and Marketing

for ******** and would like to join your INLC LinkedIn group. Thanks!

Julie M.

Proposed INLC MetricsProposed INLC Metrics

• Average number of participants at society tours• Society senior and student membership growth (%)• Society members retained (%)• Society active members (%)• Average society meeting count (%)• Number of events jointly sponsored

– Initial goal of at least two (2) this year• Best practices implemented• Volunteer opportunity participation

2010 SME 248 Results To Date…2010 SME 248 Results To Date…• Tour Attendance: 100+% increase (vs. 2009)!

– January Mackay Mfg. Tour: 78 participants– February ReliOn Tour: 40 participants– May Ecolite Tour: 47 participants

• SME 248 Membership (YTD): 30 new members!– (2) Regular Members– (5) Senior Members– (23) Student Members!

• Co-sponsored Tours– SME/LMC Ecolite ‘Lean Benchmark’ Tour (May 19th)

• Best Practices Implemented: – About to start using PayPal to collect money for events (APICS)

• Volunteer Opportunity Participation– Now a resource for Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI)

One of our Upcoming Projects…One of our Upcoming Projects…• INLC will most likely be helping college students

during the next school year obtain certifications that are available through the INLC societies

– Each month starting in September, a different society will present info on certifications they offer to our Student Members from Gonzaga, EWU, WSU, SCC, NIC and Whitworth

– Each society will then provide separate training classes for students interested in obtaining these certifications

• The goal is to offer these classes and the certification fee at no charge to our students

• Sponsorship opportunity!!

• Spokane’s Workforce Development Council and Greater Spokane Inc. is very supportive of this idea

– They’re considering sponsoring the INLC for this effort!

Lessons Learned…Lessons Learned…• Be the leader of a collaboration effort like the INLC

– Helps assure it will benefit your SME chapter– “If you’re not the lead dog, the view is always the same.”

• Form a ‘Board’ with other society chairs– Meet monthly for the first (6) or so months– Early on facilitate a ‘Situation, Target, Proposal’ (STP) exercise

• Helps establish common understanding of the ‘Current State’ and ‘Future State’

– Develop metrics to determine collaboration effectiveness• Keep internal society info confidential

• Have a networking event early on – Invite all participating society members– Facilitate a brainstorming session on collaboration benefits,

challenges and ideas for moving forward together• Find an event/activity to co-sponsor together